The Corona Cabinet has decided on a closure outline that will be imposed in order to combat an unprecedented increase in morbidity • Non-essential businesses will be closed • Synagogues will be closed except on Yom Kippur, so prayer will be allowed on a limited basis • The government will convene tonight to approve the outline • All details
On the way to a general closure:
In the shadow of the unprecedented increase in coronary heart disease in Israel, the Corona Cabinet decided (Wednesday) on measures to tighten the closure, with a new and more limited outline for gatherings, including prayers and demonstrations.
Prime Minister Netanyahu on the need to tighten restrictions
According to the outline, which will be submitted to the government tonight, the closure will be more hermetic than before, and with the exception of grocery stores, pharmacies and a number of factories, all businesses in the country will be closed.
Also the synagogues will close this Friday and only on Yom Kippur, on the day of Yom Kippur, will they remain open and prayers in very small groups.
In a conversation that Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Bnei Gantz had with Netanyahu, he told him that "it is better to go into full closure as soon as possible to stop the contagion, with minimal damage to vital business activity. Better now than in a month, when even the damage will be greater and the medical challenge great." More".
During the hearing, Netanyahu attacked blue-and-white members of the Corona Cabinet, accusing them of engaging in politics, despite the emergency due to the spread of the Corona virus.
"The recommendation of all professional bodies was to stop all gatherings - demonstrations and prayers in closed spaces," the prime minister said during the meeting, adding, "I fully support the right to demonstrate, but every week Israeli citizens see how they are required to celebrate the holiday alone, how they are required to stand "In the health directives, and on the other hand how demonstrators gather in droves against every health rule. Today 31 people died from the corona. I am fighting for the lives of the citizens of Israel. I am fighting for public health. At this time there are those who do small politics. We are at war, wake up."
After the exchange in the Cabinet, Ganz convened an urgent consultation with members of his party who are members of the Corona Cabinet, and instructed them to listen to the professionals, but not to focus only on demonstrations.
During the consultation, Ganz said to his ministers: "Insist on the well-being of citizens in health and stopping morbidity while balancing the components of Judaism, democracy, the economy and society and do not focus only on the issue of demonstrations. Stop the disproportionate debate immediately," "Full and emergency. Our decision has implications for human life and we will accept it solely in accordance with the position of the professionals. Only according to the needs of the hour in health, and the economy and stopping disease."
In parallel with the discussion, Interior Minister Aryeh Deri addressed the increase in morbidity in an interview with Kol Chai radio, and called on the religious public to hold prayers outside the synagogues.
"The exact situation is that there are thousands of new patients every day, the number of deaths and the number of patients is soaring," Deri said.
They showed us graphs and hard-to-view data.
There were a lot of patients who came to the synagogues on Rosh Hashanah, they did not know they were sick, but they managed to infect many during the prayers. "
The Interior Minister went on to say: "Anyone who can pray outside on Yom Kippur, I recommend him to pray outside. Whoever decides whether to close synagogues or not is the great man of Israel. I am only one finger in the government. I do not compare prayers to demonstrations, but how can I explain "The public has a full closure, while they see people celebrating at the beach and having crowded meals in Balfour."
Apparently, large parts of the economy will be closed and prayers and demonstrations will be allowed only in groups of up to 20 people and at a distance of one kilometer from the house.
It is very possible that the synagogues will be closed and prayers will be allowed only outside.
Photo: Knesset Spokeswoman
Earlier, Netanyahu consulted ministers against the background of the spike in morbidity and said that since we are in an emergency following the sharp rise in numbers, he would seek to pass a resolution on a broad general closure and a significant tightening of restrictions immediately, alongside closing large sectors of the economy.
Another issue that will come up for discussion is the closure of Ben Gurion Airport for outbound flights, although it is not clear at the moment whether this will be implemented.
The Prime Minister's Office is examining a number of options regarding the emergency course to be taken.
One option is to declare a "state of emergency," but there may be more options in the spirit of the general line decided by Netanyahu.
Health Minister Yuli (Yoel) Edelstein also supports the closure of synagogues and the cancellation of demonstrations.
In blue and white they will support every decision of the professionals - health and safety and not in the exceptions (that is, if the demonstrations are part of the decisions - they will support, if the synagogues are part of the decisions they will support).
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Bnei Gantz wrote on the subject of demonstrations and prayers on his Facebook page: "In a democracy, the right to demonstrate and protest is sacred. The demand of those who want to pray as the Jewish people have practiced for thousands of years is also sacred and just. "Working and caring for their child is real and just. But no less important, and certainly in national emergencies, is the right to health and safety. We will have to balance all these rights."
"Today, the Corona Cabinet will present limited outlines for prayers and demonstrations by professionals in the police, the Ministry of Health and legal advice to the government. We will back up their decision, act responsibly and sensitively to preserve citizens' lives and health. These are not ordinary days." "In all the important issues at hand, so that no one is left behind. Together, united, with mutual guarantee and social solidarity, we will go through this challenging period."
Minister of Social Equality Meirav Cohen presented during the cabinet meeting an outline to support the population of senior citizens who are in quarantine.
The outline includes giving preference in priority to queuing for senior citizens, for example in receiving deliveries, as well as receiving a designated audience at branches on the day of the old-age pension distribution.
Cohen's office does not currently recommend designated opening hours for senior citizens due to our age.
The outline further recommends allowing senior citizens living in the community to meet their children and grandchildren safely (e.g. in an open area or on a home porch) to alleviate their loneliness.
Participated in the preparation of the article: Ariel Kahana, Meital Yasur Beit-Or, Daniel Roth Avnery, Yehuda Schlesinger
